<h2>Name</h2>
<p>
This Surah has been named after Prophet Hud whose story has been
related in vv. 50-60. 
</p>
<h2>Period of Revelation</h2>
<p>
If we consider its theme
deeply, we come to the conclusion that it was revealed during the same
period as Surah Yunus and most probably followed it immediately.
</p>
<h2>Subject</h2>
<p>
The Surah deals with the same subject as Surah Yunus, that is,
invitation to the Message, admonition and warning, with this
difference that the warning is sterner. This is also supported by a
Tradition: 
</p>
<p>
It is related that after its revelation, once Hadrat Abu
Bakr said to the Holy Prophet, "Of late I have been noticing that you
are growing older and older. What is the cause of it?" The Holy
Prophet replied, "Surah Hud and the like Surahs have made me old." This
shows that it was a very hard time for the Holy Prophet and these
stern warnings added greatly to his anxieties that were caused by the
persecution from the Quraish, who were doing their worst to crush down
the Message of Islam. For it was obvious to the Holy Prophet that the
last limit of the respite given by Allah was approaching nearer and
nearer and he was afraid lest the term of the respite should expire
and his people be seized by the torment. 
</p>
<p>
The invitation is this: Obey
the Messenger of Allah; discard <em>shirk</em>, and worship Allah and Allah
alone: establish the entire system of your life on the belief that you
shall be called to account in the Hereafter. 
</p>
<p>
The admonition is
this: Remember that those people who put their faith in the outward
appearance of this worldly life and rejected the Message of the
Prophets met with dire consequences. Therefore you should consider it
seriously whether you should follow the same way that history has
proved to be the path to ruin. 
</p>
<p>
The warning is this: You should not be
deluded by the delay in the coming of the punishment: it is because of
the respite that Allah has granted you by His grace so that you might
mend your ways: if you do not make use of this opportunity, you shall
be inflicted with an inevitable punishment that will destroy you all
except the Believers. 
</p>
<p>
Instead of addressing the people directly, the
Quran has used the stories of the people of Noah, Hud, Salih, Lot,
Shu'aib and Moses to achieve the above mentioned objects. What is most
prominent in their stories is that when Allah passes His judgement on
the people, He does not spare anyone whatsoever, even if he be the
nearest relative of the Prophet of the time. Only that one is rescued
who had believed in the Prophet, and none else, not even his own son
or wife. More than that: the Faith demands from each and every
Believer that he should totally forget his relationships when that
judgement comes and remember only the relationship of the Faith. For
it is against the spirit of Islam to show any regard whatsoever for
the relationships of blood and race. And the Muslims demonstrated
these teachings practically in the Battle of Badr, four years after
the revelation of this Surah.
</p>

